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News > In Memoriam > Remembering Hazel Skinner (nee Heathcote)

Remembering Hazel Skinner (nee Heathcote)

Hazel taught the piano at JAGS from 1948 to 1980.
29 Mar 2021
Written by Nancy Burley
In Memoriam
Sara with her mother, Hazel, in 2018
Sara with her mother, Hazel, in 2018

Hazel took the job of teaching the piano at JAGS in September 1948. Being a very young graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she quickly gained 60 pupils and was admired by the girls not only for her beautiful piano playing but for her up-to-date fashion sense and hairstyles.  She was frequently ‘told off’ by the Headmistress at the time for having the wrong length of skirt and hair that was ‘curled’. However, Hazel remained (except for a short period of maternity leave) at JAGS until July 1980.

Hazel had great zest for life and always attended the JAGS Alumnae Lunches, meeting with numerous past pupils who still marvelled at her stylish sense of fashion.

Hazel was also a very keen golfer and when she gave up golf shortly after her 90th birthday, she took up bridge instead. Completely out of the blue in June 2018, Hazel was diagnosed with leukaemia after waking up one morning with a nasty bruise. She sadly passed away just 4 days after the diagnosis.

Hazel leaves behind daughter Sara Holmes (nee Skinner), Class of 1981 and Director of Music at Rosemead Preparatory School, son-in law Stephen (Alleyn's) and granddaughter Sophie (vocal teacher at Rosemead Prep) - and so the music lives on.

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